Self propelled figured wheeled toy



Aug. 14, 1956 c. A. GIBSON, JR

' SELF PROPELLED FIGURED WHEELED TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1954 Aug. 14, 1956 4 c. A. GIBSON, JR 2,758,415

SELF PROPELLED FIGURED WHEELED TOY Filed April 26, 1954- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 14, 1956 Filed April 26, 1954 C. A. GIBSON, JR

SELF PROPELLED FIGURED WHEELED TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 62,2 20? zfm, J)? 77 V?- 43 1956 c. A.GIBSON, JR 2,758,415

SELF PROPELLED FIGURED WHEELED TOY Filed April 26, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J 12 en for rZA suns rnornttun rrounnn WHEELED TOY Carl A. Gibson, JIL, Hopkinton, Mass., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Northwestern Marl Box Company, a corporation of Missouri Application April 26, 1954, Serial No. 425,359

Claims. (Cl. 46-107) vehicle alternately moves forward in a straight line and then turns at an angle and simultaneously operates the head and arm of the figure to indicate the direction in which the vehicle is traveling to simulate the actions of a motorist.

Another object is to provide a spring propelled toy vehicle which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which provides great play value.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective View of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and of a portion thereof, but with certain of the parts in a different operating position.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view taken 'on lines 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but with the parts in a different operating position.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a disassembled perspective view of the toy figure forming part of this invention, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the vehicle body.

The chassis generally indicated at 10 includes a flat base 12 having fenders 13 and a running board 14 on each side thereof, all of which may be integrally molded or formed. A pair of depending posts 16 extend downwardly from the front of the base to which is rigidly secured an axle 13 on which are rigidly mounted the front wheels 20. The front wheels do not rotate on the axle and do not support the front of the ear. The base 12 has a hollow depending post 22 in which is supported a rotatable spindle 24 which has a fork member 25 which carries a freely rotatable guide wheel 26 on which the front of the vehicle is supported and which controls the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The base adjacent the rear thereof supports the spring and gears for propelling the toy and for operating the sliding member which operates the guide wheel 26. The base 12 has a vertical section 27 provided with an annular opening in which is rotatably received a bushing 28. The bushing supports a rotatable crown gear 30. A rotatable shaft 32 has a reduced end 33 fixedly supported in the bushing 28 and the opposite end of said shaft is supported in the vertical section 34 of the base 12. A windup wheel 36 is fixedly secured to the end of shaft 32 to rotate same. Mounted around the shaft 32 is a coiled spring 37, the

nited States Patent 0 2,758,415 Fatented Aug. 14, 1956 rear end of which is secured to the shaft as at 38 and the front end is secured to the crown gear as at 39. The shaft 38 is provided with a here at the forward end in which is received a metal pin 40, which is fixedly secured to the shaft as at 46a to rotate therewith. The forward end of said pin extends through an opening in the bushing 28 and fixedly supports a ratchet 41. A pawl 42 mounted on the base 12 engages said ratchet to permit clockwise rotation of the shaft 32 but to prevent counterclockwise rotation thereof.

A housing generally designated by the'humeral 44 is suitably secured to the base 12 and said housing supports the following operating structure.

The rotatable rear axle 46 has one side supported in a post 47 depending from the bottom of the base. The opposite side of the axle 46 extends through suitable openings in the opposite side walls 45 of the housing 44. The rear left wheel 48 is freely rotatable on the axle 46 and the rear right wheel 49 is fixed to the axle to rotate therewith and be driven thereby. A gear 50 and a pinion 51 are fixedly mounted on the axle 46 to rotate therewith. Suitable spacing collars are positioned on the axle between the side walls 45 of the housing.

Rotatably supported in the side walls 45 of the housing forwardly and upwardly of the axle is a stub shaft 52 which has fixed thereon a pinion 53 which meshes with crown gear 30, and a gear 50 which meshes with the pinion 51 on the rear axle 46. Also fixedly mounted on the stub shaft is a cam plate 56 which actuates the sliding member generally designated by the numeral 58 presently to be described. Secured to the side wall 45 of the housing 44 as at 55 is a bar 57 which carries a fiint 82.

The sliding member 58 comprises a flat horizontal stem bar 59 having a downwardly extending rib 60. The rib 60 is supported for sliding movement in a longitudinal groove 61 formed in the base 12. The forward end of the sliding member has an offset lateral extension 62 provided with a slot 63. The sliding member 58 is adapted to operate the guide or steering wheel 26. The spindle 24 of the guide wheel has fixedly secured at the top thereof a link 64 which rests on the top of the base 12 and which supports a pin 65 which is confined in the slot 63 of the extension 62. The pin 65 has an ear 66 to prevent separation of the sliding member with respect to the pin. A coiled tension spring 68 has one end hooked to the base 12 as at 69 and the other end secured to a pin 70 on the sliding member. The forward end of the spring is bent rearwardly as at 71 to engage the pin 65 on the link 64. The spring 68 normally tends to maintain the sliding member 58 in a retracted position as shown in Fig. 3 unless urged forward by the cam plate 56. When the sliding member is in retracted po ition the guide wheel 26 is positioned straight forward to direct the vehicle in a straight forward path. When the sliding member 58 is moved forwardly (Fig. 4) due to the action of the cam plate 56, it will rotate the link 64 forwardly which in turn rotates the spindle 24 to turn the guide wheel 26 at an angle 45 to the left thereby changing the direction of travel of the car as it is being propelled. After the highpoint 56a of the cam plate is passed the sliding member 53 will be retracted by the coil spring 68 and again straightening the front guide wheel.

The rear of the rib 60 of the sliding member is curved as shown as 72 to engage the high point of the cam plate. The rear of the horizontal bar 59 of the sliding member 58 is enlarged as at 73 and is provided with a transverse slot 74.

A vertical shaft 75 which is used to operate the head and arm of the toy figure is supported on the sliding member 58. A link 76 is secured to the shaft and said link carries a pin 77 which is received in the transverse slot 74. The shaft 75 extends through an opening in 3 an offset portion 78a of the base 12 and upwardly through the. body of the vehicle as well as the body of the toy figure. As the sliding member 58 moves back and forth it will correspondingly rotate the shaft 75 first in one direction and then in the other to operate the head and arm presently to be described.

Supported in the rear of the housing 44 is a cross shaft 78 on which is fixedly mounted a pinion 79 which meshes with gear 50 on the rear axle and is operated thereby. The shaft 78 fixedly carries a disc 80 having an abrasive peripheral surface 81. The flint 82 previously described makes contact with the abrasive disc to produce sparks, thus as the toy operates sparks will be produced.

A hollow vehicle body 84 is positioned on the base 12 and is suitably secured thereto by screws or the like. The vehicle body has a seat 85 on which is positioned and secured the toy figure generally designated by the numeral 86.

The toy figure 86 as best shown in Fig. 8 is made of front and back hollow sections 87 and 88 which are lined up with the registering pins 89 fitting into the holes 90. The toy figure has an internal transverse wall 91 provided with an opening 92 and a keyway 93. A recess or slot 94 is provided adjacent the shoulder portion of the figure and said slot receives the flat extension 95 of the arm 96. The extension 95 has a pin 97 which is received in the vertical openings 98 in the body of the figure.

An enlarged opening 99 is provided in the top of the toy figure to. receive the neck 100 of the head 101. Extending laterally from the neck is a flat extension 102 which is provided with an opening 103 for receiving one end of a tie bar 104. The opposite end of the tie bar is secured to the arm as at 105. The neck has a vertical bore 106 and the extension 102 has a communicating keyway 107 in which is received the vertical shaft 75. The shaft has a key 108 which fits in the keyway 107. Thus it will be seen that as the shaft 75 is operated or rotated it simultaneously rotates the head 101 to the left and moves the arm 96 outwardly as shown in Fig. l and when it rotates in the reverse direction it rotates the head to face forwardly and moves the arm inwardly as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The complete operation of the toy will now be described.

With the parts for example in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, that is with the sliding member 58 in retracted position and the guide wheel 26 in a straight forward position, the windup wheel 36 is manually rotated clockwise, while one hand is holding the right rear wheel 49 to prevent rotation of the rear axle 46 which is fixedly secured thereto. Rotation of the windup wheel will rotate the shaft 32pand tension the spring 37. Counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 32 is prevented by engagement of the pawl 42 with the ratchet 41. After the spring 37 has been tensioned and the vehicle set on the floor or other surface and released, the spring 37 will cause the crown gear 30 to rotate clockwise and drive the pinion 53 counterclockwise. The pinion 53, gear 54,cam plate, 56 and stub shaft 52 all being fixedly secured will all rotate counterclockwise simultaneously. As viewed from the right side of Fig. 3 the gear 54 will operate the pinion 51 fixed on the axle 46 to rotate the axle and right rear wheel 49 clockwise to propel the vehicle. Since the guide wheel 26 is positioned straight forward the vehicle will first move in a straight forward path. As the cam plate 56 rotates its high spot 5654 will engage the sliding member 53 to push it forwardly against the tension of the spring 68. When the sliding member 53 is pushed forwardly it will through its slot 63 engage the pin 65 on the link 64 and move the link 64 forwardly about its pivot and simultaneously rotate the spindle 2 4 and the guide wheel 26 to an angular position of 45 to the left as shown in Fig. 4. This will cause the vehicle to move to the left while the guide wheel 26 is in this position. As the sliding member 58 is moved forwardly the vertical shaft 75 through the link 76 and pin 77 is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from the top of the shaft as seen in Fig. 6. The shaft 75 when thus rotated will rotate the head 101 in the same direction and through the extension 102 and tie bar 104 will cause the arm 96 to pivot outwardly simulating the action of a driver in signalling a left hand turn.

As the cam plate 56 continues to rotate with the stub shaft 52 and the high point 56a of the cam plate moves away from and disengages sliding member 53 the spring 68 will instantaneously retract the sliding member to the position shown in Fig. 3 and through the parts aforementioned straighten the guide wheel 26 and through vertical shaft 75 rotate the head 101 and pivot the arm 96 back to their initial position, that is with the head straight forward and the arm inward as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. As the vehicle is propelled this alternate action occurs and the vehicle is first caused to move straight forward for a period then turn to the left momentarily then straight forward for a period and turn to the left momentarily and so on until the spring 36 has been expended. Thus a complete circle of travel is obtained in a continuous manner.

The cam plate 56 makes one complete revolution to every 3 revolutions of the right rear wheel 49, thus the vehicle will run straight forward for 3 revolutions of the right rear wheel then turn left sharply at approximately 90 and run straight forward for 3 revolutions of the rear right wheel and turn left sharply and continue this operation. The head 107 turns and the arm 96 moves out, just before the front guide wheel 26 turns.

As this operation is progressing the abrasive disc is constantly rotating with the flint 82 in contact to pro duce sparks.

I claim:

1. A toy vehicle of the character described including a vehicle body, a guide wheel at the front thereof on which the front of said vehicle rests, a pair of rear wheels, spring actuated means for operating at least one of said wheels to propel said toy, a cam member operated by said spring actuated means, a sliding member positioned between said cam member and said guide wheel and adapted to be operated by said cam to cause said guide wheel to move to a straight forward position or to an angular position, a toy figure supported on said vehicle and having a rotatable head and a swingable arm, and means operated by said sliding member to cause said head to rotate and said arm to swing outwardly.

2. In a toy vehicle of the character described comprising a toy body having a guide wheel at the front thereof for supporting the front of said vehicle, wheels positioned at the rear of said vehicle, spring means for rotating said wheelsto propel said vehicle, means including a sliding member connected to said guide wheel and operated as said vehicle is propelled to alternately position said guide wheel in a straightforward position and at an angular position to cause said toy vehicle to move in a straight line and then turn abruptly, said toy vehicle supporting a toy figure, said toy figure having a pivotally mounted arm and means operated by the sliding movement of said sliding member for pivotally moving said arm outwardly as said guide wheel is moved to an angular position.

3. A toy vehicle of the character described including a body having a front guide wheel on which the front of the vehicle is supported, a rear axle secured to said body, a pair of rear wheels supported on said axle at least one of said wheels driven by said axle, means for driving said axle comprising a crown gear, a spring for operating said crown gear,.a transverse shaft, a pinion, a gear and cam plate fixedly secured to said transverse shaft to rotate therewith, said crown gear being in engagement with said pinion to drive said shaft, said shaft operating said gear to drive said axle, a sliding member positioned on said body between said guide wheel and said cam and adapted to be actuated by said cam as same rotates to alternately move said guide wheel from a straightforward position to an angular position of approximately 45, a toy figure supported in said vehicle,

said toy figure having a rotatable head and a pivotally mounted arm, means operated by said sliding member to rotate said head and to pivot said arm outwardly as said guide wheel is moved to an angular position.

4. In a toy of the character described comprising a toy body having a guide wheel at the front thereof for supporting the front of said vehicle, a pair of rear wheels, at least one of which is operated to propel said vehicle, means for propelling said vehicle, a cam plate supported on said body and operated by said means, a sliding member positioned between said cam plate and said guide Wheel and connected to said guide wheel to operate same, said cam plate adapted when rotated to urge said sliding member forwardly to rotate said guide wheel at an angle and spring means for retracting said sliding member after said cam plate has passed its high point to position said guide Wheel in a straightforward position, a toy figure positioned on said toy vehicle, said toy figure having a pivotally mounted arm, and means operated by the forward sliding movement of said sliding member to cause said arm to pivot outwardly during said forward sliding movement.

5. In a toy vehicle of the character described comprising a toy body having a guide wheel at the front thereof for supporting the front of said vehicle, wheels positioned at the rear of said vehicle, spring means for rotating said wheels to propel said vehicle, means including a sliding member connected to said guide wheel and operated as said vehicle is propelled to alternately position said guide wheel in a straightforward position and at an angular position to cause said toy vehicle to move in a straight line and then turn abruptly, said toy vehicle supporting a toy figure, said toy figure having a pivotally mounted arm and rotatable head and means operated by the sliding movement of said sliding member for pivotally moving said arm outwardly and rotating said head as said guide wheel is moved to an angular posi tion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,627,659 May May 10, 1927 2,421,041 Swenson May 27, 1947 2,634,546 Carver et al Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 432,954 Italy Apr. 1, 1948 

